Switch lock



Feb. l0, 1925.

E. L. GRAUEL SWITCH LOCK Filed Feb. l0, 1925 /A/Vf/V TOP( ATTOP/VEYS.

Patented Feb. l0, 1925..

PATENT FFICE.

EDWIN Il. GRAUEL, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR' TO THE GBAULOCK COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SWITCH LOCK.

Application led February 10, 1923. Serial No. 618,205.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN L. GRAUEL, a citizen of the Unit-ed States, and a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and Stat-e of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch. Locks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part o-f this speci tication.

M invention relates to locks, and more particularly to locks in which an electric switch is enclosed, the lock serving to operate the switch in a4 desired manner.

It has been found desirable by me, in the production of electro-magnetically controlled locking devices for motor vehicles and the like, to provide a double throw switch, which must be passed through its full cycle of operations each time the electromagnetic means is to be energized. In one lock, devised by me to prevent unauthorized operation of the switch, I have provided a combination lock, and in the present device it is my object to provide a key-controlled lock.

rlhe disadvantage of key-controlled locks, particularly where used to lock an automobile against theft, is that the owner is likely to forget to lock his vehicle, er else leaves the key in the lock. In an electro-magnetic lock, I have found it `possible to cut off current therefrom upon stopping the vehicle motor, in automobiles, and thus I havedone away with the disadvantage of the driver leaving the car unlocked, since I can electromagnetically release a locking dog or valve whenever the car stops, thereby locking the car without any volitional act on the part of the driver.

If in such a switch lock there is a key which can be left in the switch, then complete protection is not available, even with an automatic device, such as has just been noted. rI`hus it is the object of my invent-ion herein to provide a key-controlled lock switch, in which the key is ejected after each operation of the lock.

It is also my object to provide a lock having a. wide number of combinations, thoroughly theft-proof, and easily made, by means of which a cycle of operations is enforced, as in operating a double throw switch.

It is also my object to provide a lock which is valuable for other purposes besides serving as a lock switch and having the simplest possible structure.

These objects I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement ofparts to be hereinafter more speciiically pointed out and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the lock with the casing in section.

Figure Q. is a view at right angles t-o Figure l with Jthe casing sectioned.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the lock.

Referring to t-he speciiic form of lock selected for purposes of my invention, it will be noted that I provide in one casing for an ignition switch and the switch lock of my invention.

I show a cylindrical barrel l, onto which is welded a face plate 2. I have not shown any wiring cable, but it will be understood that such a cable will be secured in a metal casing, and bound fast in the end piece il, which may be screwed onto the back end ofthe lock barrel. Thus by anchoring the cable and its casing at some other point I can enforce a breaking of the cable to get into the lock, this breaking` of the cable serving to set the electro-magnetic mechanism which I desire especially to control by my device.

In the illustrated form of my invention I have shown the ignition switch 3, located in a portion of the barrel and have left a Space 5 for a lighting system switch. The lock switch itself is preferably mounted in a rectangular space left between two plates 6, 6, which may be double or single and are suitably set into the barrel.

The switch is illustrated in the type of device shown as mounted on a block 6a of insulating material, which retains in spaced relation a set of three plates or tongues 7, 8, and 9, which form the contacts and are cone nected up with the wires 10, and ll from the cable, and the central one 8, is grounded to the case.

The lock is formed by a series of segment shaped pieces, 12, in this case five in number, mounted on a stud 13, and each having a spring 14, set into a slot with which each piece is provided. These springs bear against the side of the barrel and force the are shaped edges of the pieces toward the face plate and key slot.

'Ihe pieces each have slanting, rectangular notches'rl therein, the notches in the various pieces being in different positions, so that when the key 16 is Vinserted into the lock,

and the five pieces 12 forced inwardly by the different sized tongues 17 on the end of the key, the various notches Vwill bebrought into line.

When the'notches are broughtinto line and the pieces 12 (called tumblers) are forced inwardly, the dog 1S, having a slanting end 19 arranged to fit the notches, will drop',r by gravity into the alined notches, and will stop the further pushing in Vof the key and tumbler assembly.

The dog V18 is pivoted at 20, onone of the division plates, and carries an insulated piece 21, which engages the ends of the switch tongues orV contacts. When the lock is operated as described the dog will move to a position of release of all of the tongues whereupon the central tongue 8 will spring of its own resiliency to contact with tongue 9. Y

When the key is released bythe operator the springs ofl the various tnmblers will force it outwardly through the slot, so that unless held in the fingers it will fall out entirely. YAt the same time the dog, due' to the slanting relation of the notches and the engaging end of the dog, will be forced out of the notches, and the switch operating piece 21 will force the tongue 8 over against the tongue 7.

Thus two contacts are made with the cene tral tongue or switch point, upon each operation of the key, and the key is ejected by the lock.

The springlof the switch contact 8 acts on the dog to force it into engaging position, and the tumblers themselves complete the full seating of the dog end in the notches.

The whole device is very simple, but I do not Ysuggest that it is the only method of equiyalent nature of accomplishing the purpose' o-f operating a switch, by means of a tumbler or other form of lock, and ejecting the key, thereby enforcing a removal of the key by the operator, at the risk of losing it, in case it falls on the floor. Y,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A lock switch comprising a switch, a lock formed of tumbler-s adapted to be brought into line by a key, said lock including a dog adapted to come into play when the tumblers are brought into line, said dog adapted to control the switch, and said tumblers being resiliently pressed toward positien to eject the key when the dog has been brought into operation, and the key released by the operator.

2. In combination a double throw switch, a lock having a member controlled thereby which controls the switch, so as to form one set of contactsV in an actuated position of the lock, and another in the released or locked positionof the lock, and a key for actuating the lock, said lock being spring pressed toward released position of the member and the key arranged to be ejected by the lock in its spring pressed movement, whereby the operator cannot keepthe key in the lock and a cycle of contacts is enforced and the lock is always locked upon release of the key.

3. An operating device for switches comprisinfr a casing, an assembly of springpressed tumblers having notches therein in different relative positions, a. key adapted to be inserted through the casing and bring said notches into line with each other upon engagementwvith the tumblers, and a dog having a member to engage in said notches, but not to hold said tumblers, whereby when the tumblers are released by the key, the dog will be moved out of engagement with the notches and the key forced out o-f the casing bythe tumblers.

EDWIN L. G3i-QUEL 

